Backpack Weight

Do I need that heavy coat? How much water do I really need for this leg of the hike? Do these questions sound familiar?

I enjoy traveling as lightly as I can without leaving any essential item behind. Before each trip I spend time planning and thinking about what items I really need to pack in my backpack and what can be left at home. I am careful not to leave any item that may save my life like a waterproof shell. My down sleeping bag is the best weight saving item I own. A problem I repeat on every hike is food, I always pack too much. I seem to eat much less than I plan too.

It is also important not to double up on common property items like stoves, tents, cooking pots and water filters. Make a list of common property items and share the weight with other members of your group.

What you place in your backpack can make or break your outing but this topic really comes down to personal opinion and experience. Sometimes extra gear is just fun to have alone.

Upper Yosemite Falls

Tenaya Lake